…Ikimi, Agbebaku, Inegbeneki, Ighodalo, Mrs Obaseki woo voters

By Ozioruva Aliu

THE Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Thursday, commenced its statewide governorship campaign where it said it was sure of victory and urged security agencies to be fair to all participants in the exercise.

The rally which was held in Ubiaja, the headquarters of Esan South West Local Government Area had in attendance top leaders of the party including former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Deputy Governor, Mike Ogiadomhe; State chairman of the party, Tony Aziegbemi; Sen Odion Ugbesia; Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Tim Osadolor and others.

Speaking, Edo State House of Assembly, Speaker, Hon Blessing Agbebaku said Governor Godwin Obaseki was a cerebral man who has laid a foundation that only the candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie have the capacity to continue.

“This is the Edo State that produced Professor Ambrose Alli, Chief John Oyegun, a top permanent Secretary, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor as governors and we have an Obaseki whose brain is on fire as governor. Are you going to vote for somebody who lacks capacity and education?”

On his part, Chief Francis Inegbeneki said contrary to reports, he was not on the run and that “after 24 years waiting to produce the governor, we cannot produce Okpebholo (APC Candidate) because he lacks capacity. I have left the APC for good, I am now in PDP and we in Esan have unanimously agreed to vote for Asue Ighodalo. I saw Oshiomhole jumping, somebody should tell him that his era is over, if they win, they will take Edo backward.”

The wife of Obaseki, Mrs Betsy Obaseki said the PDP was the first to ensure fairness by bringing Ighodalo as the candidate and that others were just copying the PDP but “surprisingly, they brought somebody who is not competent. Remember that Edo is always first and believes in fairness and equity. That is why the governor worked to bring the candidate from here.”

Ikimi called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure a free and fair election in the state, saying: “My message to the IG of police, the DG of DSS is that they should ensure security on the election day for everybody. I have only one vote and let our votes count.”

Ighodalo said Obaseki has laid a solid foundation that he would continue, adding that in a few years time, the people would be seeing the results.

He said: “We are ready to continue where our governor stopped, we will take Edo State to the next level. If a man wants to build a house, he has to start from the foundation, Governor Obaseki has started the foundation and we will continue from where he stopped. The works they have done for the past eight years will soon begin to show.”